Controller, method of operating a water source heat pump and a water source heat pump

Abstract

A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A controller, comprising:
 one or more processors configured to:
 determine whether a water temperature in a condenser coil is above a first setpoint when a valve is open to a first flow setting that permits warm water to flow to the condenser coil; and 
 communicate a first control signal, wherein content of the first control signal depends on whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting; 
 
 wherein, in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to open the valve to a second flow setting. 
 
     
     
       2. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to turn on ambient heating. 
     
     
       3. The controller of  claim 2 , wherein the ambient heating comprises resistance heaters positioned proximate the condenser coil. 
     
     
       4. The controller of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate a low temperature alarm. 
     
     
       5. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the second flow setting permits more water to flow through the condenser coil than the first flow setting. 
     
     
       6. The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 determine whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above a second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting; and 
 in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting, communicate a second control signal via the interface, the second control signal indicating to open the valve to the first flow setting. 
 
     
     
       7. The controller of  claim 6 , wherein the first setpoint corresponds to a lower temperature than the second setpoint. 
     
     
       8. The controller of  claim 7 , wherein the second setpoint is selected to indicate when the water temperature in the condenser coil is approaching a freezing condition. 
     
     
       9. The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the second setpoint is selected based on a percentage of antifreeze and a type of antifreeze in the water flowing through the condenser coil. 
     
     
       10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions comprising:
 determining whether a water temperature in a condenser coil is above a first setpoint when a valve is open to a first flow setting that permits warm water to flow to the condenser coil; and 
 communicating a first control signal, wherein content of the first control signal depends on whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting; 
 wherein, in response to determining that the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to open the valve to a second flow setting. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein, in response to determining that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to turn on ambient heating. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the actions further comprise:
 determining whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above a second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting; 
 in response to determining that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting, communicating a second control signal, the second control signal indicating to open the valve to the first flow setting. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10  wherein:
 the second setpoint is selected to indicate when the water temperature in the condenser coil is approaching a freezing condition and the first setpoint corresponds to a lower temperature than the second setpoint; and 
 the second flow setting permits more water to flow through the condenser coil than the first flow setting. 
 
     
     
       14. A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, the HVAC system comprising:
 a water-cooled condenser comprising a condenser coil; 
 a valve configured to permit warm water to flow from a stored water system to the condenser coil when the valve is open; and 
 a controller configured to:
 determine whether a water temperature in a condenser coil is above a first setpoint when a valve is open to a first flow setting that permits warm water to flow to the condenser coil; and 
 communicate a first control signal, wherein content of the first control signal depends on whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting; 
 
 wherein, in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to open the valve to a second flow setting. 
 
     
     
       15. The HVAC system of  claim 14 , wherein, in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the first setpoint when the valve is open to the first flow setting, the first control signal indicates to turn on ambient heating. 
     
     
       16. The HVAC system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine whether the water temperature in the condenser coil is above a second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting; 
 in response to a determination that the water temperature in the condenser coil is not above the second setpoint when the valve is open to the second flow setting, communicate a second control signal, the second control signal indicating to open the valve to the first flow setting. 
 
     
     
       17. The HVAC system of  claim 14  wherein:
 the second setpoint is selected to indicate when the water temperature in the condenser coil is approaching a freezing condition and the first setpoint corresponds to a lower temperature than the second setpoint; and 
 the second flow setting permits more water to flow through the condenser coil than the first flow setting.